Solenoid actuated operator system



Aug. 26, 1958 P TRoMBETTA SOLENOID ACTUATED OPERATOR SYSTEM 2SheeEs-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 28, 1952 FIGZ JNVENTOR. .PANFILO TROMBETTAAug. 26, 1,958 P. TROMBETTA SOLENOID AOTUATEO OPERATOR SYSTEM 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 28. 1952 FIG? FIG.|O

FIGB

INVENTOR. PANFILO TROMBETTA ATTORNEYS FIGB United States Patent O2,848,903 l SOLENOID ACTUATED OPERATOR SYSTEM Panflo Trombetta,Milwaukee, Wis. Application October 28, 1952, Serial No. 317,336

Claims. (Cl. 74-516) This invention relates to a force transmitting andconverting apparatus and, more particularly, to a solenoid actuatedoperator system.

Solenoids are utilized extensively in almost every eld of commercialendeavor in many different and varied forms of application although theprimary use of solenoids is as a prime mover. Consequently, a solenoidof general application must be able to deliver power in many differentplanes and directions. This is especially true of Solenoids which areutilized as replacements for other Solenoids in existing equipment forin these instances it is often impossible to utilize the mountingsdesigned for use with the original solenoid. Also, it is desirable thatthe Solenoids used in either original equipment or as replacements inthe original equipment be capable of providing a working stroke which isadjustable both in the force applied and in the distance through whichthe force is applied. Obviously, it is impossible to design a differentsolenoid for each application thereof requiring varying forces operatingthrough dierent distances.

Prior atttempts at providing a solenoid which is capable of deliveringan adjustable magnitude of force which operates through an adjustableworking stroke are unsatisfactory inasmuch as the adjusting means areoften sensitive to pressure and impossible to maintain in the selectedadjustment.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide an operatorsystem for a solenoid which is capable of delivering a power stroke inmany different planes and directions.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an operator systemwhich is capable of easy manual adjustment in order to convert a forceof fixed value operating through a fixed distance in a given plane intoa variable force operating through a distance of correspondinglyvariable value in any other plane.

A further object involves the provision of an operator system of asolenoid which is easily adjusted and which is capable of remaining insuch adjusted position when subjected to the effect of repeated shocksor vibration.

Another object is to provide an operator system which is not only easyto adjust, but which is also capable of being economically fabricatedand assembled.

In accordance with these and other objects, one embodiment of theinvention comprises a solenoid pivotally mounted to a frame member, theforce of operation of which is transmitted to a lever arm also pivotallymounted to the frame. This lever arm is provided with a plurality oflongitudinally spaced apertures which are adapted to receive a linkwhich interconnects the lever arm with the device to be operated. Byengaging the link member within a selected one of the apertures, it ispossible to deliver a working stroke to the device to be operated whichis adjustable both in working length and in magnitude of force applied.

Another embodiment of the invention includes a pair of Solenoidspivotally mounted to a frame member and positioned on opposite sides ofa link arm which is secured to an actuating shaft. Energization ofeither of the Solenoids displaces the link arm and consequently theactuating shaft in either of two directions so that a lever armcontrolled by the actuating shaft is displaced in either of these twodirections. This arm is provided with a plurality of longitudinallyspaced apertures which are adapted to receive a link member connected tothe device to be operated. By varying the point of interconnectionbetween the pivotally mounted arm and the link, it is possible to obtaina plurality of different forces operating through selected workingstrokes.

Further objects and advantages of the present invenltion will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds, and the features ofnovelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisspecication.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may behad to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view with portions broken away of a solenoidactuated operator system comprising one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. l, assumingthat the disclosure of the structure in Fig. l is complete;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4 4 in Fig. 3,assuming that the complete structure is disclosed in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line S-S in Fig. 3,assuming that the complete structure is shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion ofFig. l showing a portion of the operator system;

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of a solenoidactuated operator system embodying the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the operator system disclosed inFig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional View of the means forpivotally mounting the Solenoids shown in Figs. 7 and 8; and

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 in Fig. 9,assuming that the entire structure is shown in Fig. 9.

Referring now to Figs. l to 6, inclusive, of the drawings, there isdisclosed a first embodiment of the invention, including a solenoid 70pivotally mounted to a frame 72 as indicated at 73. Energization of thesolenoid '70 moves a bifurcated armature 74 in a downward direction asviewed in Fig. l so that a pair of lever arms 76 comprising a portion ofan operator system indicated generally as 73 are moved through anarcuate path. The frame 72 may be mounted in a plurality of differentpositions as more fully described in Trombetta Patent No. 2,694,165,granted November 9, 1954.

In order to provide a means for operating the device 22 with anadjustable magnitude of force working through a variable distance, thearms 76 are provided with a plurality of longitudinally spacedapertures89. A link member 82 is secured at one end to the device 22 to beoperated and the free end of the link member S2 is received within aselected one of the apertures Si). In the embodimentk shown in Fig. 1,if the link 82 is connected at'the top of the lever arms 76 there willbe-provided a working stroke and force on the link 82 which is identicalto that produced by the downward movement of the armature 74.Displacement of the member 82 in a downward direction to engagedifferent ones of the apertures-80 produces a working stroke which is.shorter .in .length .and .in `which .a greater force -is applied. Also,extending the v.length of the arms 76 and then displacing the member 82in an upward direction to engage different openings P80 which l.wouldlbeyprovidedin 'suchextensiom produces a force lessthan that applied by.thedownward movernentlof the armature 74, but `which operates ithrougha greater rdistance. 'The lever Yarms 76 .are .also provided with aIprojecting .'.portion 84 which extends outwardly from the `arms 76 atapproximately rightangles thereto. An aperture S6 is formed in .ftheprojecting portion .84 so as to providea means ,for .producingsubstantially .vertical :motion `of `the member :82 whenreceived'therein as :distinguished :from the substantially :horizontalmovement produced :by i the engagement 'of the member 282 within theapertures 80.

To .provide the pivotal movement of the arms 76 relativetozthefframe 72,these arms are rotatably mounted on a machine screw 88 (Fig. 4)whichextends through a shouldered aperture 90 in the frame 72 andthrough apertures formed in the two arms 76. One end of .the machinescrew 88 is swaged over as indicated at I92 to retain the arms on themachine screw 88, and a spacer sleeve 93 is interposed between the twoarms 76 to1maintain these arms -in a spaced relation.

The operator system 78 for transmitting the motion of the solenoidarmature 74 to the pair of arms 76,in cludes a .crank arm 94 (Figs. LZ'and 6) which is pivot- Iallysecured tothe armature 74 by afshaft 9 6.A pair of spacer sleeves 98 which are .positioned lon the ishaft 96engage the sides of the crank arm -94 ltomaintain this crank in acentrally located position between the bifurcations of the armature 74.An apertured sleeve portion 100 formed on the crank 94 is positioned vona shaft 102 which is rotatably mounted on vthe 'frame 72. The Asleeveportion 100 of the crank 94 is rigidly vsecured tothe shaft 102 by meansof apin 104 which extends through both of these members.

AA -sleeve element 106 having a `projecting lug 108 is positioned on theshaft 102 in abutting relation with the sleeve portion 100 and issecured to the shaft 102by a pin 110. Another sleeve member 112.having aprojecting lug ,114 formed integral therewith is positioned .on theshaft 102 in an abutting position interposed between the wall of theframe 72 and the sleeve 106. The sleeve 112 is rigidly secured to theshaft 102 by a pin 116. Accordingly, when the armature 74 moves in adownward direction upon energization of the solenoid 70, the crank 94 isrotated in a counterclockwise vdirection fas viewed .in Fig. l of thedrawings. Thiscounterclockwise rotation of the crank 94 is imparted tothe shaft `102 and subsequently to both of the sleeves 106 and 112 toproduce a corresponding counterclockwise movementofthe depending lugs108 and 114.

The counterclockwise motion of the lugs 108 and 114 is transmitted toarms 76 by a link member 118 Iwhich is interposed between the upperextremities of the two lugs and which is pivotally secured thereto at:one tend b y a pin 120. The other end of thelink 118 is .interposedbetween the two lever arms 76 and is pivotally secured thereto by a pin122 (Fig. 5).

In operation, the device 22 is interconnected with the lever arms 76 byengaging the free end of the link member 82 within one of .the spacedapertures 80 or .86. Upon energization of the solenoid 70, the armature74 is .moved vertically downward as viewed in Fig. 1 to producecounterclockwise rotation of the crank 9 4 and consequently of the lugs108 and 114. This .counterclockwise rotation of the lugs is transmitted.throughthe link 118 to rotate lor pivot the pairof arms 76 in acounterclockwise direction about the pivot screw 88. This arcuatemovement of the pair lof arms 76 is 4transmitted through the link 82 tooperate the device 22. Obviously the link 82 could be engaged within anyof the apertures 80 .or `86 rather than in the aperture 8 0 disclosed inFig. l of the drawings. Because of the lpivotal mounting'of'the-solenoid 70'relative to the frame 72 as indicated at 73, thesolenoid 70 pivots slightly relative to the frame 72 during the downwardmovement of the armature 74 so as to prevent the armature 74 frombecoming wedged "between opposite faces of the solenoid pole pieces.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 7 to l0, inclusive,of the drawings is similar to that disclosed in Figs. y1 to 6,inclusive, except that a pair of solenoids 126 and .128.are pivotallymountedto a frame 130 to provide means for pivoting a pair of lever arms132 in opposite directions. The lever arms 132 'function to produceanadjustable means in conjunction with a link member 134 to produce theadjustable force and stroke varying means described in conjunction withthe lever arms 76 and link member 82 with the exception that the leverarms 132 are rotated in both a clockwise and counterclockwise ldirectionby -an operator system indicated ygenerally as 136.

The operator system 136 includes therein a crank arm 138 which islsecured v'to a-shaft 140 midway yalong the length o'f the crankarm 138.`One end of the crank arm 138 is pivotally secured vWithin thebifurcations 'of a solenoid armature 142 and theopposite end of thecrank 138 is 'pivotally secured within the bifurcated vend -of asolenoid armature 144. The remainder of the operator system 136 .isidentical to that described in conjunction with the operator Asystem 78disclosed in Figs. l to 6, inclusive, :of the drawings.

The solenoids 126 and 128 are pivotally mounted-.to the frame '130 lbythe provision of a lug 146 which projects downwardly from a base plate148 secured to the bottom 'of each of tthexsolenoids. Thedependingfportion 146 isaperturedand is also .positioned between Ltwoupstanding portions .150 Vand 152 formed integral .with the frame r13 0.A machinebolt 154 (Fig. l0) passesthrough an aperturein the :opstandingportion 150, and the faperture.in;the dependingxportion 146, and isthreadedly engaged within the aperture .formed in the upstandingportion152. This pivotal mounting-for the vsolenoids 1126 and 128 is similar tothat providedfor the vsolenoid 70 'and permits these two solenoids tomove in an arcuate direction during the downward movementof either ofthe armatures v142 or 144.

In operation, the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 7 to 10, nclusive, fissimilar to-that described in conjunction with the embodiment disclosedin Figs. l to 6, inclusive. with the exception that either of thesolenoidsl126or1f28 may be energized. If the solenoid '126 isenergized,'the armature 142 is moved vertically downward to rotate boththe Shaft 1 40 and the lever arms 132 in a clockwise direction toproduce a movement to the right, as viewed in Fig. 7, of the link member134, whereby the device 122 is operated. However, if the solenoid 128(shownin an operated position in Fig. 7) is operated, the armature 144moves vertically downward to rotate theshaft i140, and consequently ,thelever arms 132, in a counterclockwise direction.

Obviously, the operator system 78 shown in Figs. lto 6, inclusive, asbeing actuated by a single solenoid .-70 may be actuated by a pair ofsolenoids connected-tothe system 78 `in tandem. This'tandem connection ymay bc accomplished by connecting the opposite ends vof the armaturesassociated with a pair of aligned solenoids Vto the crank arm 94 sothat, upon energizationof these solenoids, the cumulative operatingforces thereof are applied to the operator system 78.

.While there have been illustrated and described severa] embodiments'ofthe present invention, it should be understoodithat the presentinvention is not limited to the specific detailsofconstruction andarrangement thereof herein illustrated, and that changes. andmodifications=will occur tothose -'skilledin the artwithoutdepartingzfrom the :present invention. It is intended in the appendedclaims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. An apparatus for operating a device comprising a frame, a solenoidpivotally mounted on the frame, a shaft movably mounted on the frame,means secured to the shaft and controlled by the solenoid for moving theshaft, an arm pivotally mounted on the frame, means interconnecting thearm with the shaft to produce movement of the arm in response tomovement of the shaft, said arm having a plurality of spaced aperturestherein, and means secured to the device and engageable within aselected one of the apertures to operate the device in accordance with amovement of the arm.

2. An apparatus for operating a device comprising a frame, a shaftrotatably mounted on the frame, a crank arm secured to the shaft, meansfor moving the crank arm through a predetermined distance with apredetermined force, a first pair of arms secured to the shaft, a tirstlink element having one end thereof interposed between and pivotallysecured to the first pair of arms, a second pair of arms movably mountedon the frame and pivotally secured to the link at the free end thereof,and a second link member operatively engaged at one end by the device tobe operated, said second pair of arms having means for securing thesecond link member thereto at a plurality of different positions wherebyan adjustable magnitude of said predetermined force moving through anadjustable length is applied to said device to be operated.

3. An apparatus for operating a device comprising a frame, a shaftrotatably mounted on the frame, a crank arm secured to said shaft, meansfor moving the crank arm through a predetermined distance with apredetermined force, a first arm secured to said shaft, a rst linkelement having onel end thereof pivotally secured to said iirst arm, asecond arm movably mounted on the frame and pivotally secured to saidrst link at the free end thereof, and a second link member operativelyengaged at one end by the device to be operated, said second arm havingmeans for securing said second link member thereto at a plurality ofdifferent positions whereby an adjustable magnitude of saidpredetermined force moving thro-ugh an adjustable length is applied tosaid device to be operated.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 in which said crank arm is securedto said shaft intermediate the ends of said crank arm and in which saidmeans for moving said crank arm includes rst motor means connected toone of said ends of said arm and second motor means connected to theother of the ends of said arm.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 in which said means for movingsaid crank arm includes a solenoid having an armature pivotallyconnected to said crank arm at a point spaced from said shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,781,246 Reynolds Nov. 11, 1930 1,852,286 Bragg Apr. 5, 1932 2,052,764Harrison Sept. 1, 1936 2,156,127 Roberts Apr. 25, 1939 2,165,460 Desing`Tuly 1l, 1939 2,361,810 Bazley Oct. 31, 1944

